Of the six Infinity Stones, the Power Stone stood apart. On its own, it could shatter a planet. When paired with the others, it acted as a catalyst, amplifying their effects. Rowan Mercer had never been particularly obsessed with collecting them. The Stones only functioned within their native universe; elsewhere, they were nothing more than glittering rocks.
Still, indifference did not mean carelessness. One Stone posed little threat to him, but several in the wrong hands were another matter entirely. Since he was already out in space, Rowan decided it was worth the detour. Better to secure the Power Stone himself and lock it away where no one else could misuse it.
Between the Space, Mind, and Power Stones now in his possession, the balance was already tilted. The Time Stone remained with the Ancient One, the Reality Stone was still sealed, and the Soul Stone drifted somewhere beyond known charts. Even if someone managed to claim the Soul Stone, it would not be enough to endanger him. And if the day ever came when he faced an enemy stronger than himself, the Stones could still serve as tools rather than crutches. More than that, the principles embedded within them might one day deepen his understanding of magic itself.
So, upon leaving Xandar, Rowan altered course and headed for Morag.
A day later, Sanctuary II hovered above the endless ocean that swallowed the ruined world. Rowan vanished from the deck and reappeared above the waves, closing his eyes as his awareness spread outward. The Power Stone was sealed within its orb, but its presence was impossible to hide completely. Given time, he would find it.
An hour later, he smiled.
There.
Rowan shifted forms, magic reshaping him into a massive fish, and plunged into the depths. His transformation magic was already refined enough to mimic almost any creature, though it dulled his spellcasting slightly. Against Morag's ocean predators, that hardly mattered. He did not even need magic. Any leviathan foolish enough to approach was met with arcs of electricity rippling from his body, leaving scorched silhouettes drifting in the dark.
Moving like a living bolt of lightning, he reached the submerged ruins and entered a half-collapsed palace. At its heart rested the orb.
"Got it."
The moment it was secured in his personal storage, Rowan returned to human form and reappeared aboard Sanctuary II.
"That's it. Back to Earth."
Peter Quill and the others exchanged puzzled looks, having no idea what Rowan had just retrieved from the depths, but they followed orders without question.
Five days later, Sanctuary II arrived at Earth. Rowan briefed Professor Xavier and the others on what had transpired, then promptly stepped away from public affairs and returned to seclusion. With the Nova Empire's established framework for uplifting developing worlds, and with Xavier and Coulson coordinating on Earth's side, humanity's entry into the wider galaxy was all but assured. Any resistance from stubborn world leaders would not matter. The Nova Empire was cooperating with Rowan Mercer, not with Earth's governments. And if anyone caused trouble, the message would be delivered swiftly and decisively.
While Earth prepared for its leap into the cosmos, another world approached the end of its own journey.
In the Cardcaptor world, Sakura Kinomoto and Takeda Akira were nearing the final stages of collecting the Clow Cards.
At the dinner table on Friday night, Akira set his chopsticks down.
"Ancestor, Sakura and Tomoyo invited us to Tokyo tomorrow."
Beside him, Kanzaki Mio looked up hopefully, eyes fixed on Rowan, clearly afraid he might say no.
"Go," Rowan said with a smile. With a casual gesture, he cleared the dishes using household magic, then handed Akira a card. "Bring enough money. Don't be cheap on a date. And be careful. I've mostly finished studying the Fight Card. Return it to Sakura tomorrow, and see if you can borrow the Create Card for me."
Not long after Sakura had sealed the Lightning Card, Mio had followed Akira here. They were both part of this body's extended family, and Rowan took responsibility for them without much thought. Over time, Akira and Sakura's bond had grown steadily, especially after traveling together and meeting family abroad. What remained between them was little more than unspoken understanding.
Rowan borrowed the Clow Cards sparingly, always one at a time, careful not to interfere with Sakura's trials. This was Clow Reed's test for his daughter, not something meant to be disrupted. Rowan's interest lay in the magic itself, especially the Clow Cards, each one a crystallization of its creator's insight.
Lately, his focus had been the Fight Card. It embodied the essence of combat techniques across the world. Even someone untrained could, with its power, become a top-tier martial artist instantly. Rowan's own close-combat skill relied too heavily on raw strength and reflexes. Against an opponent like Captain Rogers, equal physical ability would leave him at a clear disadvantage.
Magic solved that problem neatly. With the Fight Card fully understood, Rowan could match elite fighters on technique alone. And next came the Create Card.
Creation made manifest. A book that turned written concepts into reality. It was nothing less than a symbolic form of creation itself. If he could truly comprehend it, the possibility of crafting an entire world of his own no longer seemed like fantasy.
The deeper Rowan studied the Clow Cards, the more clearly he understood just how extraordinary Clow Reed had been. A single wish, powerful enough to halt Yūko's death, had even given rise to beings on the level of Fei Wang Reed.
That kind of magic was worth pursuing.
...
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